The Days Are Long And The Years Are Short

Our children are mirrors. They reflect back what we show them.

Sometimes we can put so much pressure on ourselves to get it right. We know what’s on the line. We don’t want to let them down. It makes sense to feel this responsibility.

Our son turned 22 yesterday. I can remember when his hand was little enough to fit into my palm. That feels like a lifetime ago, but it also feels like that could have just happened.

I can tell you something that I once heard. I feel like it summarizes this feeling, that life passes by so quickly, so sneakily.

‘The days are long and the years are short.’

I’m not sure where I first heard that said, but I remember that it resonated when I did first hear it. It feels like that.

Nothing is unchanged for long. Before you know it, the days have turned into years. The years have added up to decades. Silently, the tide of time washes over all of us.

My wife and I have said, it feels like the last 15 years were a time warp. It’s like we were in kid mode and then suddenly they’re both graduated from high school (our daughter just graduated last week). My son has a freaking beard. How?

I’m telling you this because the days are precious. Every day counts. I wrote a different article about that recently (Every Day Is A Seat In The Arena). One of the main points in that article was that we don’t have as much time as we think. 80 years is only about 29,000 days. That’s it. Every day counts.

Time is precious.

Just be there.

Show up for yourself. And, show up for others.

Our son turned 22 yesterday. Perhaps one of my favorite memories of the day was seeing him well up when he was reading our hand written messages that we all individually wrote to him in his birthday cards. He said, “Damn, I guess that’s how you know you’re getting old. When you tear up over birthday cards?”

I’m not sure if that is the sign of getting older or not. But perhaps it is the sign of maturity and experience. Of being old enough to know that life can be hard. Of showing up anyway. Because after all, life is passing by.

Every day, a new scribble of the pen as it write the story of your life. Every day a new opportunity to be the person you know you are. A chance to love. A chance to be.

Happy birthday kid. We love you.